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Israel Folau to be sacked by Rugby Australia

By
Kaniva Staff
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By ABC. This story appears on Radio New Zealand news website.

Rugby Australia has announced it intends to terminate Israel Folau’s contract following his latest online comments that homosexuals and other “sinners” will go to hell.

Wallabies international Folau, one of Australia’s top players and most marketable athletes, wrote on Instagram that gays would be condemned to “hell” if they failed to “repent”.

New South Wales Waratahs player Folau, an evangelical Christian, made similar comments last April.

Rugby Australia and New South Wales Rugby Union said they had made attempts to contact Folau “both directly and via his representatives” since last night, but the star had failed to communicate directly with either organisation.

“Whilst Israel is entitled to his religious beliefs, the way in which he has expressed these beliefs is inconsistent with the values of the sport,” a Rugby Australia statement read.

“We want to make it clear that he does not speak for the game with his recent social media posts.

“Israel has failed to understand that the expectation of him as a Rugby Australia and NSW Waratahs employee is that he cannot share material on social media that condemns, vilifies or discriminates against people on the basis of their sexuality.”

It said rugby is a sport that continuously works to unite people, and they wanted everyone to feel safe in the game.

“And welcome in our game, and no vilification based on race, gender, religion or sexuality is acceptable and no language that isolates, divides or insults people based on any of those factors can be tolerated.

“As a code we have made it clear to Israel formally and repeatedly that any social media posts or commentary that is in any way disrespectful to people because of their sexuality will result in disciplinary action.

“In the absence of compelling mitigating factors, it is our intention to terminate his contract.”

The sport’s governing body said in a statement on Wednesday the content within the post was unacceptable.

“It does not represent the values of the sport and is disrespectful to members of the rugby community.

“The Rugby Australia Integrity Unit has been engaged on the matter tonight.”

Qantas, a major sponsor of Rugby Australia, has labelled the comments disappointing.

Earlier, it said it was awaiting the results of Rugby Australia’s investigation but the comments didn’t reflect the spirit of inclusion and diversity that the airline supports.

Folau was contracted to Rugby Australia and the Waratahs through to the end of the 2022 season.

Row breaks out between king’s nobles as Lord Ma‘afu scolds Lord Tu‘ilakepa over ‘Atele lease petition

By
Kalino Latu
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A debate after a petition by Tonga College ex-students was tabled in Parliament has divided the king’s nobles, with Lord Ma’afu telling Lord Tu’ilakepa he was “ta’emahino” (misunderstanding).

Lord Ma’afu said he had been trying repeatedly to tell the noble the land about which the petition complained belonged to the government, but the noble appeared to ignore it.

Lord Ma’afu, who is also the Minister of Lands, Survey and Natural Resources, told Lord Tu’ilakepa to check the quarry on his estate, which he often talked about, and see whether it was still in use or had run out of rocks.

Lord Tu’ilakepa told Lord Ma’afu to stop being personal.  

“’Oua te ke fakafo’ituitui. ‘Oua te ke fakafo’utuitui,” Lord Tu’ilakepa warned in Tongan.  

The petition

The nobles’ row came after the petitioners complained that 15 acres of land at Tonga College, ‘Atele which the government recently leased to the Tonga Football Association should be returned to the college.

The petition was backed by most Noble MPs and the Independent MPs.  

Lord Ma’afu told parliament two weeks ago that the late King Tupou IV decided to lease part of Tonga College’s lands for the establishment of a Football Association centre in Tonga.

Lord Ma’afu said the size for the land the king wanted for the centre was big, but as far as he understood FIFA, which was funding the centre, could only afford 15 acres of the land.

He said the Football Association recently asked for more land and he had given them another 15 acres.

He said the petition was based on that additional 15 acres.

The noble said the Football Association was entitled to more land, but he thought that was enough.

He said the Football Association’s lease was legal and went through his Ministry’s procedures.

Against

The Niuas MP Vatau Hui, who was an ex-student of Tonga College and whose son is studying at the college, insisted that the Minister should return the additional 15 acres to the college.

He said the value of a child being taught at the college was more important than the benefits the Football Association could bring.

Lord Ma’afu asked the MP why they did not submit a petition when the University of the South Pacific and the Tonga Communication Corporations leased parts of the land.

Hon. Hui argued that the land being given to the Football Association was fertile and therefore important for the College’s agriculture.

Lord Ma’afu said about TP$4 million every year came through football and was being spent on young people.

He said Tonga College had 186 acres of land to use.

The main points

  • A debate after a petition by Tonga College ex-students was tabled in Parliament has divided the king’s nobles, with Lord Ma’afu telling Lord Tu’ilakepa he was “ta’emahino” (misunderstanding).
  • The nobles’ row came after the petitioners complained that 15 acres of land at Tonga College which the government recently leased to the Tonga Football Association should be returned to the college.

Israel Folau’s latest anti-gay comments ‘unacceptable’

By
Kaniva Staff
-

By Radio New Zealand

Fullback Israel Folau’s latest anti-gay comments on social media are “unacceptable” and its integrity unit will look into the matter, Rugby Australia (RA) says.

Wallabies international Folau, one of Australia’s top players and most marketable athletes, wrote on Instagram that gays would be condemned to “hell” if they failed to “repent”.

New South Wales Waratahs player Folau, an evangelical Christian, made similar comments last April.

“Rugby Australia is aware of a post made by Israel Folau on his Instagram account this afternoon,” Australian rugby’s governing body said in a statement on Wednesday.

“The content within the post is unacceptable. It does not represent the values of the sport and is disrespectful to members of the rugby community.

“The Rugby Australia Integrity Unit has been engaged on the matter tonight.”

Folau, 30, also condemned in Twitter post a landmark decision on Wednesday by the Australian state of Tasmania to make it legally optional to list gender on birth certificates.

In February, Folau extended his Wallabies deal until 2022 ahead of this year’s World Cup, although contract negotiations were complicated by his conservative religious views.

Folau faced no sanctions in April last year for anti-gay comments after RA said it accepted his position that he did not mean to harm the game.

Folau had offered to walk away from the sport if RA found itself in an untenable position with sponsors and fans.

This article is republished under Kaniva’s content partnership with Radio New Zealand.

Participating in beauty pageant helped overcome shyness, learn about Tongan dancing, competitor Salome Vaiangina says

By
Kalino Latu
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A 21-year-old New Zealand-born Tongan beauty contestant said joining Miss Apraxus 2019 helped her overcame her nervousness and shyness. 

Miss Salome Liekina He Ofa Vaiangina is representing the Nasita Production in the competition.

She said she had learnt a lot from what she had gone through since the competition began last month. Each of the five contestants has staged a fundraising night to help fund their involvement and participation.

Miss Vaiangina said she was proud of her Tongan culture and the competition was a good chance for her to learn more about how to perform Tongan dancing.

She is studying tourism and pursuing her dream of becoming a flight attendant.

Her hobbies are singing and dancing.

She said she felt proud after she was invited to take part in the competition. The winner and the rest of the competitors will travel to Tonga to compete at the Miss Heilala 2019 contest.

 “I was happy at first knowing that someone has sponsored me,” she told Kaniva news.

“I learn a lot like confidence.”

She said when the competition began and when it came to her turn to have her fundraising night she started to feel the heat knowing many people would watch her while performing on stage.

“I was very nervous. I just wanted to hold a smile,” she said.

Miss Vaiangina said she was glad to represent the Nasita Production and would like to promote its services.

The company had been serving the Pacific community in New Zealand for about five years designing T-shirts and providing video recording services. 

Vaiangina, who is from Manaunga He Lotu and Talafo’ou in Tonga, came from a family of 11 siblings.

Her father Tongo Fionoa Vaiangina died in 2015, but Miss Vaiangina never forgot how he was proud of her.

She was tearful and repeatedly tried to compose herself during the interview when she was talking about her father.

Her mother Lile, who was attending the interview, said her kāinga recalled how Tongo Fionoa was proud of his children and they said it could have been a different story if he was still alive to see his daughter joining the competition.

Tongo Fionoa was instrumental in establishing the Church of Tonga in Papakura which celebrates its 10 anniversary this year.

The main points

  • A 21-year-old New Zealand-born Tongan beauty contestant said joining Miss Apraxus 2019 helped her overcame her nervousness and shyness. 
  • Miss Salome Liekina He Ofa Vaiangina is representing the Nasita Production in the competition.

Argument over cow and dispute with Port Master lead Ministers to Magistrate’s court

By
Kaniva Staff
-

Two government ministers will appear in the magistrate’s court next week.

Both appeared in court yesterday, but have had their cases deferred.

Minister of Justice Vuna Fa’otusia was charged with wrongful interference with the course of justice and using threatening language to police officers in a dispute over an allegedly stolen cow.

Hon. Fa’otusia originally appeared in the Fasi Magistrate’s Court on April 1 and had his case adjourned to April 8.

The case stems from an incident on January 12 this year.

The Minister faces two counts of wrongful interference with the course of justice and using threatening language to police during an incident that occurred on January 12, 2019.

His lawyer, Tomasi Fakahua, asked  Chief Magistrate Salesi Mafi to defer the case until next week so they could prepare their response.

The Minister of Trade and Economic Development,  Dr. Tu’i Uata and his brother ‘Etuate Uata appeared before the bench on a charge of disobeying directions given  by the Port master.

It is understood the charge arose over the mooring of the MV Pulupaki and the MV Punalei.

The case was set aside until April 15.

The main points

  • Two government ministers will appear in the magistrate’s court next week.
  • Both appeared in court yesterday, but have had their cases deferred.

For more information

Minister of Justice appears at Magistrate Court

Minister of Justice appears at Magistrate Court

Sione Moala jailed for bar attack that left victim without an eye

By
Kaniva Staff
-

Police acknowledge today’s sentencing of Sione Moala in the Auckland High Court, in relation to the wounding of man outside a bar in the central city in April 2016.

Moala was sentenced to two and a half years’ imprisonment after being found guilty of wounding with intent to injure and fighting in a public place.

He will not be eligible for parole.

Senior Sergeant Mark Clayton says the victim was approached by Moala, a man unknown to him, and in a senseless and unprovoked attack, was left with serious injuries.

These injuries were life-changing for the victim.

 “The victim, a father of a young child, has now lost an eye and his life will never been the same again.

He has been through a significant amount of trauma, both physical and emotional, as a result of this random, cowardly attack,” he says.

“This behaviour and such public place violence is unacceptable and can cause such immense harm to people and their families.

Today’s sentencing sends a message to people that this behaviour has serious consequences.”

Senior Sergeant Mark Clayton says he hopes today’s outcome will be able to bring some form of comfort and closure to the victim, after a long court process.

“We acknowledge and appreciate this has been a difficult time for the victim and his family.

We also want to acknowledge the Police investigative team for their hard work and dedication on this case.”

Auckland Anzac Day services to merge for safety

By
Kaniva Staff
-

By Radio New Zealand

A number of Auckland’s Anzac Day services will not happen this year and will instead be merged with larger events around the city after consultation with police on security.

Armed police will be patrolling events and are working on security arrangements with RSAs and local councils.

RSA Auckland branch president Graham Gibson says there will be fewer services than the 84 services they had last year.

“We’re still working through it, so I don’t want to pre-empt anything.

“This is the greater area of Auckland and there’s a lot of services so we’re working through those very hard, we have been for the last seven days going through having consultation meetings and all that to work out what is the best and how it can be done.”

Mr Gibson said they would announce where the services are tomorrow.

Similar consolidated services are likely around the country.

Police have been providing an increased security presence since the 15 March attacks on two mosques in Christchurch.

Police assistant commissioner Mike Rusbatch has previously said there was no specific threat at Anzac Day services, but they would be providing a visible presence nationwide to reassure the public.

This story is republished under Kaniva’s content partnership with Radio New Zealand.

Fijian woman alleges Tongan couple trafficked her as slave in Australia

By
Kaniva Staff
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By AUSTRALIAN ASSOCIATED PRESS

A couple who travelled to work in Australia from Tonga ‘imported’ a live-in worker from Fiji because they felt a servant was missing from their lives, a Queensland court has been told.

Isikeli Feleatoua Pulini and Malavine Pulini are on trial for human trafficking and forced labour offences in relation to allegedly bringing a woman to work in their Brisbane home for about $250 per fortnight from 2008.

The couple pleaded not guilty to the trafficking and forced labour charges in Brisbane District Court on Monday but pleaded guilty to harbouring an unlawful non-citizen.

In his opening address, crown prosecutor Ben Power told the court the woman lived hidden from plain sight, with neighbours oblivious of her alleged forced labour in suburban Brisbane.

Mr Power told the court the alleged victim had initially worked as a domestic servant for the pair in Tonga in the early 2000s, earning about $90 to $170 a fortnight.

But in 2006 Mr Pulini and Ms Pulini secured work in Australia as a civil engineer and public servant respectively.

Mr Power said the couple felt like there was something missing from their lives after their arrival, and allegedly arranged for the woman to travel to Australia twice on a tourist visa.

Upon the woman’s second arrival in 2008, the Pulinis allegedly took her passport and said they would use it to get her an Australian visa.

Mr Power said the woman feared asking for her passport back and it was not returned until 2013, after it had expired.

He said the woman felt depressed as the years wore on, allegedly working on call around the clock, before she escaped in 2016.

The trial is expected to continue for most of the week.

Tribunal rules staying in New Zealand would be in best interests of woman and her children

By
Philip Cass
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The New Zealand Immigration and Protection Tribunal has ordered that a Tongan woman be granted a residence visa.

The woman arrived in New Zealand in 2011. She had been granted a limited general visa for one month to enable her to visit one of her brothers here. She was pregnant and  gave birth to her son in June 2011.   He is a   New Zealand citizen by birth.

The son’s father is a Tongan citizen with residence  in New Zealand.   The appellant applied for a further visitor visa in June 2011,  but her application was declined.  She has remained in New Zealand illegally since then.

She married another man in 2014, after giving birth to a child to him. The Tribunal was told her husband was frequently violent to her and her young son.

Subsequently she was granted a temporary protection order against her husband and a Family Court order preventing the daughter’s  removal from New Zealand. 

She later moved to live with her brother and his family.

The Tribunal was told the woman could not return to Tonga because she would have no means of independent financial support there. 

She had no qualifications and little work experience. Her parents were dead and her brother there could not provide her with financial support.

The Tribunal was told the woman and her daughter were an integral part of her brother’s  family unit in New Zealand. There was broad family support for them in New Zealand.

The Tribunal said that deporting the woman would clearly not be in the best interests  of her daughter. Her daughter had only lived in New Zealand and, as a New Zealand citizen, was  entitled to enjoy the benefits of the New Zealand education and health system.

The woman had considered leaving her daughter in New Zealand with family members, but did not want to be separated from her daughter.

The Tribunal ruled that the woman had exceptional circumstances of a humanitarian nature that would make it unjust or unduly harsh for her to be deported from New Zealand.

“The appellant has been living in New Zealand for eight years,” the Tribunal said.

“She has two New Zealand-citizen children and her family members, to whom she is close, are well-established here.

“Weighing the adverse public interest considerations (the length of the appellant’s unlawful status in New Zealand) against the public  interest considerations favouring the appellant remaining in New Zealand (her clear health status and good character, and family nexus to New Zealand, and the best interests of her two New Zealand-citizen children), the Tribunal is satisfied  that it would not be contrary to   the public interest to allow the appellant to remain in New Zealand.”

Former criminals to use life experiences to help young people in proposed boot camp

By
Philip Cass
-

Five deportees from the United States will use their life stories to help other people.

The five men are Muli ki Fai’ana Vehikite, Vivili Moala,‘Ila Mo’unga, Kahuni Latu and Latu Liava’a.

The men will work with the Dare to Dream Foundation, which has been registered with the Registrar of Business and Societies in Nuku’alofa.

The Foundation is waiting for a Certificate of Registration.

The following people have been appointed to the board: Linda Tu’ihalangingie, Pelenatita Kara, Dr.  Veleveni Moala and Meleane Fatafehi Tuakalau.

“Tonga has entered a stage whereby, one can seriously doubt the future of its future generation,” a spokeswoman for the foundation said.

“Juvenile crimes as well as some juvenile social related issues have risen so high in the last couple of years, with no clear solution in sight.

“Issues such as drugs and alcohol abuse, teen pregnancy, early high school drop-outs and  teen prostitution are just some of the most pressing issues we face every day that directly affects the lives of our youth.”

The Foundation plans to offer troubled young people a six month boot camp to instill the  core  Tongan values  of  fefaka’apa’apa’aki (mutual respect), feveitokai’aki (sharing, cooperating and fulfilment of mutual obligations), lototō (humility and generosity) and tauhi vaha’a (loyalty and commitment).

“This will be the bedrock of any of the youth that will be undertaking our programmes,” the foundation spokeswoman said.

“No doubt, they will come out more wiser, matured and be more responsible.”

“We want to be sure that their self destructive behaviours are completely broken and they have completely recovered and have healed emotionally.

“We don’t want to fall into the traps of providing short term solutions with no real permanent positive effects.”

Young people who successfully complete the course will become members of the Foundation.

The main points

  • Five deportees from the United States will use their life stories to help other people.
  • The five men are Muli ki Fai’ana Vehikite, Vivili Moala,‘Ila Mo’unga, Kahuni Latu and Latu Liava’a.
  • The men will work with the Dare to Dream Foundation, which has been registered with the Registrar of Business and Societies in Nuku’alofa.

For more information

Help our deported children and fight drugs, Majesty tells Parliament in closing speech

Tonga struggling to accommodate criminal deportees

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